Jared Mees Decimates OKC

Mees has been beat straight up just once this season, and that defeat came at the championship’s crown jewel event at the Springfield Mile. The bitter taste of that loss vaulted him to a convincing win at the following round, where a red flag was the only thing that prevented a Mees runaway, and carried Mees to arguably his most dominant outing to date at the OKC Mile.

As with any form of motorcycle racing, starts are the most crucial aspect to achieving success and Mees was on point off the line in the Twins Final. By the end of the opening lap he had already put his Indian three-quarters of a second out front, and things only got worse for Mees’ rivals from there. The reigning champ added to his advantage each and every lap, and he was the only rider on the track able to dip into the 40-second bracket in lap times, doing so consistently. By the time the 25-lap final came to an end, when Mees backed off the pace and went into cruise mode, he still took the checkered flag nearly 13 seconds ahead of runner-up finisher Henry Wiles.

The race itself was indicative of what the entire 2018 season has felt like for the AFT Twins field; at an utter loss towards finding an answer to Mees’ speed. It’s only going to get worse given that Mees and his Indian Motorcycle Racing team continue to learn more and get better.

“None of these races are easy, but I got a good start compared to last year and was just able to run my own race and not get caught up in the spray. I had some really good lines, I guess. I looked back a couple times just to see if somebody was catching me or if other lines were starting to work, but the motorcycle worked so phenomenally tonight. Big hats off to my guys for having the bike totally dialed in, allowing me to check out like that… I get along so well with this motorcycle, and my team gets better and better with it each weekend. Believe it or not, we come back with what we learn and get better each weekend.”

Mees was asked straight up if he can be beaten at this point. His response was humble, yet confident.

“I don’t know. Don’t get me wrong – these guys are strong. These guys are talented riders. I’ve got to come beat them every weekend just like they try to beat me. I can be beat, but I’m just gelling with what I’ve got going, honestly.”

With nine events still remaining on the calendar it will be interesting to see how much higher Mees can go. His fellow competitors are surely looking forward to the next stretch that will bring the speeds back down with a half-mile, short track, and TT, where there could be a sliver of hope to end Mees’ reign.